After 73 years of involvement in the thoroughbred horse industry, Windfields Farm has decided to close its doors following a dispersal of all remaining bloodstock in the November sale at Keeneland.
The Taylor family stated that due to the nature of the ownership, their ages and their interest, they have reached an emotional decision to discontinue their involvement. “What my father started has lasted far longer than anyone ever imagined,” said Judith Taylor Mappin, President of Windfieds Farm and daughter of the legendary industrialist and founder, E.P. Taylor. “We have been so fortunate with our horses and our staff that we remained in this business we love for decades longer than expected. Now, with the older grandchildren beginning to face their own retirement plans, it is simply time to wind things up.” Windfields Farm began when E.P. Taylor began racing in 1936, and his son Charles P.B. Taylor took over operations in 1980 and continued until his death in 1997. Following his passing, the Taylor family continued their involvement. “Our horses have been so good to us, it was just tough to let go.”
E.P. Taylor became the first Canadian member of The Jockey Club of New York in 1953, and earned Eclipse Awards as Outstanding Breeder in 1977 and 1983. Windfields Farm has been North America’s leading breeder by purses won 9 times, leading breeder of stakes winners 13 times, and leading breeder by number of races won 19 times. Windfields has also been Canada’s leading racing stable 15 times, and Windfields-breds have taken 21 runnings of Canada’s premier event, the Queen’s Plate.
A world-record 48 champions and 361 stakes winners have been bred in the name of E.P. Taylor and/or Windfields Farm, including winners of more than 10,000 races and over $84 million. Pre-eminent among them is 1964 Kentucky Derby winner and two-time Leading North American Sire Northern Dancer, arguably the most influential sire of the past 50 years.\
A brief list of other outstanding Windfields-bred stakes winners includes Northern Dancer’s three Epson Derby-winning sons Nijinsky II, The Minstrel and Secreto, Eclipse champions Devil’s Bag and Glorious Song, European champions Storm Bird, El Gran Senor, Shareef Dancer, Awaasif, Danzatore and Try My Best, leading Canadian sires Vice Regent and Archers Bay, major sires Saint Ballado and Northern Taste, major producers Kamar, La Lorgnette, Love Smitten, South Ocean and Square Angel.
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